[BNP/E3, 49A1 – 33-34]

April 1907 ?

And there are moments, horrible to me,

When, {…} and withered by thy body’s fire

{…} I would give

All the {…} depth of feeling that I live

To quench upon thee all[1] my pent desire

To live for ever in unsoothing rest

Upon the tortured ocean of thy †. 

That I could make of thy full form a lyre

To play upon songs whose minstrelsy 

[33v]

Were the deep {…} of my life’s desire needful

The length’ning of a pleasing agony.

On that I made of thy full fame a lyre

For a finitely mystic minstrelsy!

_______

Oh that I was alone in a strange land

Where all was shadows and all nothingness

That I might sing and the full horrors command

To listen to the praise of thy caress

Oh that I could compel Time’s force[2] to stand. 

[34r]

Lulling him into sleep with my distress

Oh that I was alone in a strange land

Where were thy kisses born of nothingness.

_______

I have phantastic dreams unwearied

Of knocking at my spirit’s closed door

Dreams that do lay my heart upon the bed

Of love insatiate willing to ignore

I was {…} unwearied 

Of living horror at my spirit’s core. 

[34v]

April 1907.

 
[1] thee all /thy life\
[2] force /march\